By WILLY EYA
A former Governor of Anambra State and a prominent leader of thought in the South East, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, is one man that does not fear to speak his mind on any issue. Ezeife believes that the situation in Nigeria is not irredeemable despite the challenges facing her as a nation. In this interview, the elder statesman bares his mind on various issues affecting the nation. Excerpts…
From your vantage position as an elder statesman, what do you make of the current state of the nation?
My attitude to the current state of the nation is guided by my belief that the hands of God are in the emergence of Jonathan as President. Not only does God not make mistakes, He, indeed knows what is best for Nigeria. It does not, therefore, matter what happens or how man perceives what happens. Jonathan, I believe, is a tool in the hands of God to shape Nigeria as He wants – to let God’s design for Nigeria manifest. I am beginning to think that the manifest destiny of Jonathan Presidency is the structural transformation of Nigeria from a country which appears permanently shipwrecked to a country where things work – to a country that works. From “longest” time ago and for solid reasons, the potential greatness of Nigeria has been celebrated. Hope has increasingly deemed on the actualization of that potentiality. Jonathan transformation, or the structural transformation which comes with Jonathan presidency, may yet actualize the potential greatness of Nigeria. Jonathan may not personally be leading the structural transformation agenda, but it cannot be lost on any observer that, for the first time in Nigeria, the North, the South, the East and the West are calling for a National Conference. So are all the ethnic groups in Nigeria, the large and the small.
National Conference for what?
What else, but to restructure Nigeria for peace and meaningful progress! No achievement can be greater than this.
Do you think that the present administration under President Jonathan would win the war against Boko Haram?
The war against Boko Haram is not for Jonathan to win or lose. It is a war that Nigeria must win to survive. God helping us, the sun is already setting on Boko Haram. It is not because of the great arsenal of Jonathan; it is not because of the great knowledge and strategic acumen of Col. Dasuki (which are evident); it is not because of the great resolve of those Nigerians who are so upset by Boko Haram. None of the above! Boko Haram must die because it is not the will of God that evil should triumph over good. Because God has so willed, the futility of Boko Haram is dawning on its strongest Nigerian supporters. The original founders of Boko Haram, whose simple objective is the Islamization of Nigeria, have realized that their objective is mission impossible – inevitably. Those who supported Boko Haram to make Nigeria ungovernable for Jonathan, as well as those who thought of Boko Haram violence, as a strategy for winning back power, are realizing the futility of the effort: that if they insist on “born to rule”, they will have only themselves to rule over. What is more, the longer they sustain that violence, the longer they stay out of power in Nigeria. The poor souls who supported Boko Haram in protest against bad governance which resulted in the abject poverty and ignorance of the people, are realizing that, while a short offensive would have served their purpose, and raised national consciousness to their plight, the prolonged offensive is making themselves and the people they depended on poorer now and much poorer in the longer term. They have achieved the negation of everything they had intended. It remains, possibly, the suspected or speculated foreign sponsors who, it was thought, wanted to exploit Boko Haram as a tool to make their prophesies self-fulfilling. Nigeria must survive. Jonathan structural transformation will assure that. Most Nigerians may not agree, but it is possible that Jonathan’s perceived slow and prayerful approach to the problem may have saved the country from the worst from Boko Haram.
What is the way forward to deal with the insecurity situation in the country?
I cannot claim any special knowledge in the area of national security. Apart from insecurity resulting from political motive, which includes political thuggery, there are other forms and sources of insecurity. These include theft, sexual harassment including rape, arson, ethno-religious conflicts, robbery, armed robbery, kidnapping etc. I think that, of the major ones, the easiest to deal with is kidnapping. Principally, community policing should play the dominant role. And youth groups like OPC, MASSOB etc can be empowered to play major roles. I do not want to dwell on security problems in which I do not know much. I do have one specific element of solution to advocate. It is “Safe Whistle Blowing”. From coup making to corruption, from kidnapping, even kidnapping led by the security agents who are paid to combat the crime, to all other conspiracy-related crimes and sources of insecurity, Safe Whistle Blowing can make a great impact on crime control. The key requirement is that the whistle blower is assured of his/her anonymity. And I know of a Nigerian group who claim to have developed a system that guarantees this. They claim that as long as the destination of a call is to designated security numbers, not even the service providers, whose systems are used, can identify the caller.
Do you agree with those who insist that insecurity in the North is a strategy by the power elites in that part of the country to ‘recapture’ power in 2015?
In my answer to the second question, I indicated the view that among the several motivations for promoting Boko Haram is the idea of some that it will help return power to the North. There are even those who suggest that power went to the South-South as a result of a desire to appease the violent groups in the region. I have indicated, a number of times, that Boko Haram will for a long time, deny presidential power to North. With the seeming desperation by the North to recapture power from the South, do you think Nigeria would ever remain the same? Voices of reason come from every part of Nigeria, including the North, or the deep North. Some very serious Northern minds, in high social and political positions, have categorically advised the North against risky gambles to regain power. The reason for amalgamation is still very much with us – and the gap may be getting wider. Why should the beneficiaries of amalgamation spearhead or court “disamalgamation.” The problem is that our politicians do not stop and ask the question “power for what” outside of self? The North has ruled Nigeria for more than 38 years in her 51 years of independence. What does Nigeria, and especially the North, have to show for this long dominance. Some have claimed that the North ruled and ruined Nigeria and ruined the North even more. Indeed, this is one of the reasons given for Boko Haram. Do we ever stop to think about the interest of the Talakawas of the North, the down-trodden, and the disappearing middle class, everywhere in Nigeria? Is the poor result of Northern dominance in the leadership of Nigeria due to weaknesses of the individual leaders – all of them- or a necessary consequence of a social system. When should we stop thinking only of the plunder incentive, propensity and possibilities, in the holding of political power? When do we stop thinking of self, relations, in-laws and “out-laws”? Is there a place for the interest of Nigeria, the largest concentration of blacks on earth? Shouldn’t our political objective be dominated by a desire to develop into a super power in this world, so as to satisfy what clearly looks like our manifest destiny of leading the Blacks of the earth, being their big brother and rallying point, and, above all, raising the dignity and respect of Blacks in the world? Must we remain a source of shame for Blacks – big among them like the penny among higher valued money units. Do we look among us to see who can lead the country out of the present mess created by man, in a country, in every way, designed by the Almighty God Himself for unmatched greatness? No leader of Nigeria, military or civilian, has shown a craving for the economic development and growth of Nigeria. Obasanjo did a bit well as Head of state, but after he was brought out from where he was consigned for three years to rats and mosquitoes, for no just cause, he appeared to have decided to take vengeance on all Nigerians, especially on the far North and the South East. Jonathan showed the right signs during campaigns but, so far, Boko Haram has not let us observe his true performance. When the development and growth of Nigeria become the objectives, the North should stay far away from her leadership, until they are ready in some fundamental ways.
Corruption is arguably the most challenging problem facing the country today. Do you think Jonathan has the strength of character to fight it?
Some time ago, I told an audience at the Yar’Adua Centre that, “the soul of Nigeria is going …going … !!!” Corruption has eaten up the consciences and souls of Nigerians and has induced them to the worship of almighty god of crass materialism. We can see fugitive mentality in Nigerians’ treasury plunder activity. The fugitive is so alarmed and frightened, so stupefied, by what he saw, his terrifying experience, that he does not know when to stop running. Nigerians in plundering the coffers of the state behave like this fugitive. No consideration is given to what can be done with the money being hauled. Corruption in low and high places is the root cause of our many problems from industrial unrest to small and not-so-small thievery, from armed robbery to kidnapping, from unemployment to poor infrastructure development, from import dependence to the inability for our manufacturers to compete with their foreign counterpart, and the consequent de-industrialisation of Nigeria, etc. What to do? When Jonathan is allowed to lead, he must adopt a ruthless “do-as-I-do” policy – keeping himself clean and swiftly weeding out the contaminated.
Many are afraid that there might not be a country called Nigeria after the 2015 election. Do you share that pessimism?
My immediate reaction to this is “arrant nonsense”. But we must be wary and let the true long term interest of every group in Nigeria, large and small, guide the actions of the group in the Nigerian political arena. Of course, the true long term interest of every group in Nigeria is the permanence of one Nigeria, restructured to make things work.
Do you think the current move to amend the constitution would reduce the political tension in the country?
To this I think my answer is yes. But we really need to remove sources of tension, not just to reduce tension. The National Assembly is not in a position to go far enough. Their role is really to repair some cracks on the walls of the house. Rebuilding the house, belongs to the owners of the house. We should not allow our current positions in the system becloud our thinking about long term remedies. That the members of the NASS have conflict of interests which disqualifies them from rebuilding the house, can easily be seen when we consider how they would deal with whether unicameral or bicameral legislature is best for the country. As humans, they must have difficulty with dealing with this issue objectively.
What are the most critical issues that the Constitution review should address?
Among the most issues are: the federating units, true federalism, remedying the defects of one national police with zonal police, not state police, for which our level of moral development cannot support and fiscal federalism, the derivation principle, with adequate provision for national interest etc.
Some are kicking that state creation should not be part of the amendment. The argument to support this position is that even most of the existing states are no longer viable. As one from the South East, do you agree with that position?
On the issue of one extra state for the South East, Nigeria politicians have shown great understanding and a good sense of fairness. I participated in the Committee of Leaders who rounded up the affairs of the 2005 National Political Reform Conference. See how these eminent Nigerians, representing every area of Nigeria, decided on the issue of one extra state for the South East zone. There were 42 members, 39 voted for one extra state for South East to bring the zone into equality with the four zones, which have six states each. (North West has seven). Two members only, voted against and one member abstained from voting. The Presidential Constitutional Review Committee has sharpened the reason for the special treatment of the one extra state for the South East zone. There is an overwhelming national consensus on the matter. The idea of equality of zones is generally accepted. This can be achieved with seven or eight states per zone. But this is grossly inefficient as even most of the existing 36 states are clearly unviable. The optimum solution is to declare equality of zones while making the six geopolitical zones as the federating units. You may even consider 12-zone federating system, with each existing zone split into two, with necessary boundary adjustments. But this will definitely be less efficient than the six-zone system.
It seems the dream for an Igbo presidency may never be realized considering that it is most unlikely that Jonathan would handover to another southerner. What is your take on that?
I have dealt with issue of Igbo Nigeria President extensively in the past. I should like to come to you on another occasion on this. However, the following summary statements are relevant. The principle of zoning and rotation have meaning only in the context of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. North/South alternation is not rotation and has never been a national policy. The federal character principle captures the essence of power sharing and rotation of leadership. Zonal rotation of power is an extension of that principle. The zones are what Nigeria uses for power sharing and rotation of leadership since 1995. There is even an extra minister per zone. The famous PDP Constitution provides for the zones as the basis of rotation. By 2015, every zone in Nigeria, except the South East, shall have supplied Nigeria with Chief Executive Officer for more than five years. Only the South East is left out. What will be the equity, justice and fairness, if Jonathan is to hand over to a zone which has held Nigerian Chief Executive Officer position for more than five years, rather than to the South East, the only zone that has been out in the cold. If you take the tripodal position in Nigeria, only the Igbo, of the three legs of the tripod, has not held the office – the Hausa/Fulani has, the Yoruba has. Someone, who seemed to have some problem of memory loss about history, recently talked about the American and the Nigerian civil wars and the necessary effect on access to power by the defeated. Perhaps it is necessary to remind some people about the Nigerian war. In 1966, with pogrom and other deprivations and iniquities, Nigerians declared their rejection of the easterners. The rejected people refused to reject themselves but rather decided to build a world of their own. When Nigeria changed her mind and decided to keep Nigeria one, the rejected people dutifully co-operated, since they did not want to be outside Nigeria, if they could help it. A neighbouring country provided an opportunity for one Nigeria, where things would work. A solution was worked out and agreed. The rejected ones happily prepared to rejoin Nigeria, Nigeria unilaterally and unceremoniously reneged on the agreed terms and forced a war “to keep Nigeria one”. Can any sensible person see a relationship with the American civil war in this? But, really, when will Nigerian interest predominate. Which Nigerians have played the role of developing, commercializing and opening the eyes of other Nigerians? Which Nigerians create values where hitherto no values were known to exist? Which group of Nigerians have voted with their feet for one Nigeria and are making home of, and actively developing and improving everywhere they are. When will it be the turn of economic development and growth of Nigeria – development in line with her manifest destiny? Which Nigerian will find it necessary to spread development fairly evenly across Nigeria, in order to satisfy his own people, who live everywhere in Nigeria? I shall discuss this issue further when we meet again.
Are Igbos ready in the event that such an opportunity calls especially against the perception that they cannot speak with one voice?
Some people are in for a dumbfounding surprise. But that will be because they do not pay attention to Igbo behaviour over issues that the Igbo consider important to themselves. On the issue of 2015 Igbo agenda, please put your ears on the ground. Yes you will hear, not one voice, but very many different voices. Note, however, that the multitude of voices are saying the same thing. It is not many voices, but discordant voices that cause problems. How disunited were the Igbo in burying Ojukwu? Giving him such burial honour that no human, born of a woman, has ever received. In “disunity”, we dumped “all our eggs in Jonathan basket” – the initial serious division among some elite notwithstanding. Truly, yes, we have no leader that dictates the direction we all must follow. We really do not need one, as long as good reasoning, available to most of us, guides decisions. Our shoemakers, farmers, welders, truck pushers, drivers, generally all our people, recognise and appreciate the truth and what makes sense. That is the leader we follow. We also know ourselves, the antecedents of each of us, we know who to trust. No group, out of national power for decades, like the Igbo, can have the coherence of our people. Look around. Count your teeth with your tongue. And now that an arch, ardent hater of our people, has begun to anoint presidential candidates and their running mates, to spite us, it must do some good to our coherence. For those who did not know before, will now know.
Are you not worried over the infighting among governors of the South East in recent time?
Do you know that for about more than half a decade, one person has been Chairman of South East Governor’s Forum. You cannot take the necessary adjustment to any new element as infighting. Or are people seeing in the unity of our governors the antithesis of what they wish us.
Do you support the economic integration of the South East zone?
We have a document on economic integration, endorsed by all the governors. It is an idea whose time has come. Nobody can resist it. Look at the West. They are very advanced in it. Now the South South, as diverse as they are, they have embraced integration. Should there be a problem, we can, creatively, work out an acceptable solution or compromise. There is this possibility of a device that can be called “Federally Administered States”, if it becomes necessary. A resort to such a device is becoming increasingly unlikely, as communication improves among groups.
What is the future of the country considering that so many people seem to be losing hope on its continued unity?
Because God lives, because God created Nigeria for His purpose, though through the instrumentality of British imperialism, which appeared to have deliberately sowed the seed for self-destruction in the country because the permanence of Nigeria is in the true long term interest of every group in Nigeria, and because the Nigerian people are headed for “We the people of Nigeria .. hereby make and give unto ourselves this Constitution” (for peace and progress), Nigeria has come to stay.
Chief Ezeife,u re truely a statesman.it is important 2 note dat nigeria wl overcome her problems soon.God has ordained it
Thanks mr. ezeife, indeed you are a wise man.what people fail to understand is that with God everything is possible,that obj is anoiting those he feels will replace jonathan does not mean that an igbo man cannot be in ASO ROCK if God says so. GOD is our strength.
Chief Ezeife, a Havard man, an ex-governor talks like someone who is emotionally attached to Nigerian. There is nothing wrong with being optimistic about ones homeland but Nigeria is not a homeland to Ezeife going by his own analysis. I don’t know what information that Dr Ezeife is looking at, but, I can say pointblank that his information is either dated or wrong. Nigeria is presently like a house that the roof has caved in and everyone is running for cover. I still wonder about Ezeife, especially when he suggested that Ndigbo should return to the North inspite of Bokoharam because their votes may be needed in the north during presidential election. I fail to see the need for Igbos to stay and continue to build houses in places where they are not wanted, where they are being killed. Ojukwu advised Igbos to stop building and developing the north because they will continue to lose their investments and their lives there. Igbos should learn to be transient in other parts of Nigeria for their own safety. Secondly, nobody truly feels like a Nigerian any longer. Dr Ezeife may want to see an Igbo president of Nigeria, but the present set of events are pointing to another direction. The nation called Nigeria may not be worth ruling from the center if devolution of power is accepted by his fantasized NSC. If the national soveriegn coneference fails to materialize, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know that Nigeria will fall apart completely. All the stake marks are there for all to see. People are already cleaving to the zones and tribes. I have friends who are now planning to bulldoze the houses that they built outside Igboland before they take exit back to a different location. Some may return to igboland, others for some reason may head to some foriegn countries. In the meantime, chief Ezeife and his types are still lecturing us on the need to remain faithful about this new predestined powerful black nation that will emerge called Nigeria. Sir, give me a break. Igbos are just trying to stay alife in the present Nigeria first and foremost!
I have never read a comment this apt in a very long time, the fact remains that we either split Nigeria or sink with it, the hue and cry that the north is being cheated because they are not in power is something to imagine, having killed the country with all the gimmicks they can muster…
I am so disappointed with this man Ezeife. It’s you and people like you that ruined this country Nigeria. You should shut up and cover your face in shame. The more disappointing thing about you is that you don’t know and may never know that Islam does not harbor forced convert but to be done voluntarily by one, otherwise it is not accepted by Allah the One and Only. Besides, who told you that any one is out to Islamise you and others? Of what benefit is it to the Islamic religion? Islam is better off without your likes!
Sir to tekk you more that no country called nigeria any more you see Biafra is here now opc and others
Sir to tekk you more that no country called nigeria any more you see Biafra is here now opc and others and you can count the bokos
Dr. Ezeife should know very well that President Jonathan might well for the well for the country but for the fact the Northerns want to continue to rule this country by killing people every day let’s call it quit. Enough is enough let us come together and discuss our differences instead of killing innocent souls. Please Chief Eziefe you should know that that since the inception of this evil killers called Bokoharam the igbos have suffered more than any tribe in this country therefore we’re tied about this issue of unity everyday..
Soverign or National conference is the answer to Nigeria problems. Constition amendment cannot solve it cos their was an error on the amalgamation which the whole entity called Nịgeria must come together to discuss from the grass root.
Soverign or National conference is the answer to Nigeria problems. Constition amendment cannot solve it cos there was an error on the amalgamation which the whole entity called Nịgeria must come together to discuss from the grass root.
The “God” dogma is what has brought Nigeria to her current state. We don’t need to wait for “GOD” to “come down” and solve our problems for us.
It is a great shame that someone as learned as this Ezeife will be making unfounded postulations about the intents and what not of “GOD” with regards to Nigeria.
Which “GOD” is he referring to – “White” God or “Black” God?
We need to call a spade – a spade. Jonathan is clueless as to the management of the country. The Presidency is above his “pay load”. The best he can bequeath to posterity is not to run for a second time but ensure that whoever succeeds him has both the mental and management capabilities – not necessarily experience – proven hands on capability of moving the country forward..
The truth is that one Nigeria is like a cancer , the north has no respect for igbo man they regard arab muslems better than us . I am inspired by our beloved father Dr Ezeife, God will continue to protect and guied him because he mean so much to us . The northern Nigeria leaders are not only destroying the life of Nigerians they are destroying the life of millions of black in the world, if our past leaders are visionary leader we suppose not be where we are today , the only solution to Nigeria problem is division we are not one no way we can be one ……believe me one Nigeria is IMPOSIBLE
These paranoid persons who hide under the guise national leaders, are beclouded sectional sentiment in the 21st century. What surprises most of us in the north is when they look at BOKO HARAM as a creation of the North to destabilize the regime of President Jonathan.There is no part of this country that can win election without, the votes from the North.So if the Igbo man cannot think in isolation,the North played a vital role in bringing the President to power. It is most unfortunate that Ezeife is proud of the unity of the igbos during the burial of OJUKWU. We know that the igboman honors the death more than the living, if the igbo has considered Ojukwu as their leader, the whole east would have voted him, when he vie for the presidency under APGA, how many state did the party win. All Ojukwu earn from the Igbos he sacrifice is life for is ridicule. Of course they were united in jamboree, because Tax payers money was wasted and diverted into private accounts in the name of Burying their leader.The likes of Ezeife should go and sit down and bury their face in shame,and allow modernization to prevail. He belong to the club of the Northern leaders he claims under-develop Nigeria after 38 years of leadership. What landmark has he left as a former governor, that he is being remembered for other than sowing seed of discord. The problems of Nigeria is thier generation, they keep cycling Around the President confusing him with obsolete ideas. Our problems is not Igbo, Hausa/Fulani or Yoruba,but all these praise singers who camped in Abuja, the likes of EZEIFE, EDWIN CLARK,TONY ANINI,BAMANGA TUKUR,BELLO HALIRU…etc. This are names we read in history books. The president cannot achieve any meaningful development with people like them around the sit of power…… Let nigeria be!
Mr Ezeife I for person respect yr stand as regional leader not a nigeria leader,but unfortunately u do not understand other part of this great nation that are greater than where u come from and u do not respect the constitution that bind us together,try to promote yr self from regional leader to national as for igbo presidency,even after north is stil going back to southwest nigeria not igbo,as for boko haram,is foolishness and madness for somebody to say north is using boko haram to distract jonathan attention,let me remind un reasonable ones to the riot that led to the killing of the sect leader(mohammad yusuf)during yar adua administration,was that for jonathan too? Lets our contributions be for the unity of this great nation,lets discuss issues not none issues.
There is nothing bad about wat Ezeife is saying, wat we should do is 2 get prepared nd kip watching nd knw if he is runing 4 2nd term or he wil zone power 2 southeast.
DR.EZEIFE, WELL YOU HAVE SPOKEN WELL CONSIDERING YOUR AREA OF PERSPECTIVE.
UNFORTUNATELY, MANY NIGERIANS ARE TIRED OF EXPERIENCING HARDSHIP THAT IS MAN MADE. LOOKING AT THE IDEOLOGIES OF OUR NORTHERN COUNTERPARTS, THEY ARE BENT AND SWORN TO RECAPTURE THE LEADERSHIP OF NIGERIA. OWING TO ”BORN-TO-RULE-MENTALITY”
YES, YOUR MOTIVATING PRAISE SONG OF NIGERIA GREATNESS AS THE MOST POPULOUS BLACK NATION ON EARTH IS WELL TAKEN, BUT ITS FAR FROM BEING UTILIZED. IF 62YEARS CAN NOT TRANSLATE ANY MEANINGFUL ACHIEVEMENT, INSTEAD DISCORD, HATRED, MARGINALIZATION, DISCRIMINATION, KILLINGS, STYLED-OCCUPATION BY A CERTAIN GROUP, CORRUPTION AND NEAR-FAILED-STATE., THEN, THERE SHOULD BE CALL FOR A ”SOVEREIGN NATIONAL CONFERENCE” FOR US TO MAKE AMENDMENTS TO ”THE DEVILISH AGREEMENTS OF THE IMPERIALIST AND THE HAUSA/FULANI, CONSTITUTED TO GUIDE US AS COUNTRY. WE NEED A ROUND TABLE TO DECIDE OUR FATE.
OTHERWISE, WILL APPLAUD YOU FOR SPEAKING UP REGARDING THE SENSITIVITY OF THIS ISSUE.
Chief Ezeife, I think you left a very detailed analysis of the Igbos versus the entity called Nigeria. But I want to assume that you are still very dearly attached to the nigerian project, going by the proposals you are making. The Igbos which am one of them is an endangered specie in nigerian set up. Am 46, lived in Kano, but have relocated to the South because I have lost several loved ones in the mindless killings in the north spanning many years I have spent there. I am the only one remaining to be killied. At my age, am still been chased from one point to another in my country with my family. My business continues to relocate from one point to another in search of acceptance and peace. And chief, you are proposing I continue to remain in Kano for nigeria of tomorrow that will eventually emmerge strong and peaceful?? If you have all members of your family in any of the crises prone north, and witnessed one of the mindless killings yourself, I beleive your perception and proposal will be a different thing during this interview session. Am sure at your age, you are seeing things differently from the way I see them, but I am a direct victim of the killings and destruction against the igbos in the north, and therefore in a better position to voice the feelings of other victims. I don’t know if you have any visible investment in any part of the north, especially the crises part of the north. May be your views will change if you have been hit once on such killing and destruction events. I can say that you are so emotionally attached to the Nigeria of old and won’t want to let go. The foundation for Nigeria was wrong, and therefore is beckoning for a rightful one. But its obvious the present crop of politicians are in no position to put up the right one, but may be when the proper destruction comes and consume them, then those who will survive it will be in position to do the right thing. But I guess, by then, the Nigeria of your dream would have gone. Am sorry to say this, but Change is beckoning, and must surely come…..
My People Dr is our respected elderstatesman pls lets continue to indulge them to they go and we take these murderers head-on.We will not call any of Leaders name,if they believe in a non-existing nation called NIGERIA,it is well but we are dismantling the country gradually and in Ten or Twenty Years time they will be begging us to go just like Egyptians were begging Israellites to leave them in peace.As long as they foister this amorphous one nation on all of us against our wish they can’t make progress and there will be no peace,irrespective all overtures.
Brethren we wait and prepare diligently,they will be haunted left or right,whatever anyone is doing to destroy the foundation let him keep doing it day and night,at the end BIAFRA is an irreversible process not an event.GOD BLESS BIAFRA ,NATION INSPIRED BY GOD HIMSELF.
Anyway boko haram is a weapon fashion out by the northern`elite to the country ungovernable to any southern because they don,t want anybody to prove them wrong.take for re-instance Nigeria is all most 52years out of the 52 the north wasted 38years.they rule Nigeria good 38 year without achievement so they are unmerited to be on the Nigeria front seat for two decade lets the south drive
Remembering the immortal words of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States of America delivered to the Congress on twenieth of january 1961, where he re-defined national consciousness by telling Americans “to ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”, my follow-up to political issues in Nigeria has led me to key-in to this great man’s wisdom. The solutions to political,social, economic and security challenges confronting Nigeria and Nigerians today cannot be proffered by people in authority because the attractions in those offices will not let them. I fully support Dr Eziefe that Nigeria should remain one but a lot of reforms and innovations must be introduced of which i will publish in a book later. Amendiment of some provisions of the 1999 constitution is not the solution, National confab may try but unless these innovations are injected into the system,tha confab may end up disappointing everyone
I think Ezeife does not sincerely has the interest of the Igbos at heart.Wen Boko Haram was killing & maiming Igbos & wen Chief Ralph Uwazurike ask them to come back home even went ahead to send Luxuries Buses for them was it not the same Ezeife & his Co who ask Igbos to stay back even wen he knows they were being Bombed & Killed.I dont blame him becouse none of his Children are here in Nigeria.Eburu Ozu Onye Ozo Nisi Odika Ebu Ukwu Nku
He fails to tell us what is plan b.Is he afraid to pronounce BIAFRA as plan b?
Please forget this Ibo, Yoruba, Hausa, etc. talk and mentality and only allow the best candidate to rule. The problem of Nigeria is based on kill and divide and the parochial share of the National cake.,
Dr Ezeife is a man i respect so much but here he is speaking so diplomatically and emotionally attached to united Nigeria. We all knmow that president GEJ’s body lanquage is rooting for his 2nd term come 2015 and there is no solid agreement that the same Jonathan will hand over power to an Igboman or woman come 2019. In this vein,i call on well meaning Igbos to be united against Jonathan in 2015. We can unite with the North and scuttle his ambition so that 2019 will be our turn.
You are mad.
Mr man, are u sure u are an Igbo man? I don’t think u re. Look at u talking about collaborating with the north (our arch enemy) against Jonathan in 2015. What makes think the north has our interest in the first place, power drunk north to give power in 2019. Why not tell them to wait for 2019. Was it not this same north that betrayed Dr Alex Ekwueme at Jos in 1998; swindling us in favour of Obasanjo. Please never u come on this forum again when u don’t have any things sensible to say. Why not ask yourself this question: why do north think Nigeria is their personal property? What make them think that they re the only people qualified to rule this nation? Have u forgotten their slogan: “never allow Igbos to rule again (NAIRA)”. What happened to you memory? In fact u re the greatest fool for imagining an alliance with the north against a any person from the eastern region.
DR CHUKWUEMEKA EZEIFE!WAS A POLITICAL CONTRACTOR,IBB,OBJ,AND OTHERS USED HIM TO FIGHT IGBOS.WHEN DR CHUKWUEMEKA EZEIFE,THEN GOVERNOR ANAMBRA STATE WHOT WAS HIS LAGACY.
Dr Ezeife is a clown and one that doesnt know the plight of the Ibo man living in the north and trying to stay afloat in this Nation called Nigeria.
First and foremost,The World is evolving and by this,i mean the current changes taking place globally.The issues that have arisen in Nigeria,once surfaced in the far away Western world like Europe,America and some Far-East countries not less than 150 years ago.
History has it that the oppressed few will always pick up stick and shout enough is enough but its the manner in which our voice is presented to the incumbent Government, that really matters .
Dr ezeife has never struggled to put food on the table,has he or has he had sleepless nights bordering on security matters.He has no social apparatus to measure the vaccum created by this so called boko haram on the lives of the average Nigerian.
The issue lies with the governance of today,not trying to dialogue on how to tackle this mess,with people like you and me.Time to hold debates and let Jonathan preoffer us,his ideas and solutions,instead of marauding in Aso rock doing us no justice.
Another parochial ethic bigot at his best. Ride on fool.
We the SS and the SE should work hard to achieve our dream of a new nation. As long as am concern nigeria does not exist in niger delts.
Nigeria will not break or disamalgamate if Igbo could not rule Nigeria even in the next 20 years. The common denominator of Nigeria’s problem is not the tribe of the man at the centre…it is that the system which produces the man at the centre most times is biased to allow a mediocre emerge. A president as a leader is one who carries every citizen along methinks and brings evenly development to the federating units. I still prefer to be submissive to a president who will rule with human face to one who wields iron and deny us of setting food on our tables
Okwadike! You are a true son of the soil, you have spoken well, NDEWOO! But sir in everything you will ever do for as long as God sustains you for us the republican IGBOS do not forget that BIAFRA must be actualize for us to make a statement for the world, once again thank you sir atleast for carefully reminding the north that she has been the reason for the underdevelopment of their so called nigeria.
hahahahahahaha i laugh for nigeria,which time this will end no problems.God bless biafra AMEN AMEN AMEN
The contributors to this interview granted to Dr Ezeife should first ask themselves if there were justice and equity, whether they will be calling for break-up of the country. If the answer is no, then they should concern themselves on how to make it work no matter what it may cost.The politicians from both sides of the country are capitalising on the penumbrae gullibility of the common man to preach and perpetuate dichotomy. But we must not only resist them, we will also push for greatter integration.
Igbos are not united and this disunity among them is the major cause of their predicament, last time one of their governors sent workers who are not from his state parking, how will you unite with self esteemed polititians in the polity of the southeast
What an eloquent speech by Dr Ezeife.whether u like it or not,the Igbo can never be unityed bc of selfish interest in many of u.With just one contract over i see u people fighting urself.hav u forgoten the Chris and Andy Uba,many of such exist among u.The Igbo wil find it very difficult to lead this country bc of the high level of corruption among u.pls look at the past senate president from ur zone.Even wit ur eloquent and rational speech,one contract wil make u abandone thre Igbo if there is any.
“When Jonathan is allowed to lead”. Arrant nonsense, Who is leading now? Any away Ezeefi is known to be the worst governor in Igbo history. Me think he is just looking 4 cheap popularity.
I BEG TO DISAGREE WITH DR EZEIFE. Whereas I agree with Dr Ezeife on his view on the inescapable need for a sovereign national conference, I totally disagree with him on his dellusion that … because God created Nigeria… THE UNDILUTED TRUTH IS THAT THE ALMIGHTY GOD DID NOT CREAT NIGERIA. Nigeria is a creation of the cunny, British, colonialists, for the sole good of the British people QED.
My people the biggest question is how many times a stick will plug ur eyes before you take correction? It is said that the first fool is not a fool but the second fool is a proper fool. If not with the help o f people like OBJ, and VICTOR BANJO the Biafra’s would have wipe them out of the face of the earth during the war. Bon to rule mentality is the major problem of an average house man.( NDI ALA EFI) The hand writing is boldly written on the wall….we’re not one Nigeria. If we’re one Nigeria why have Hausa man not building factories and houses in the Igbo land on like the Igbo’s building here and there in house land and Yoruba land. If you ask me i will say that Igbo’s re the true Nigerians in demonstration. Because an Housman man only take care of their cows and cattle while an Igbo man is busy developing north and south west…the nation Nigeria is tired of becoming one therefore Dr. Ezeife I am sorry to say that we’ re not Nigerian and do not want to be with them anymore ..We’re (GREAT BIAFRANS) Let us go. (UMU BIAFRA) ANYI GADI
We luv u my igbo counterparts d prblm is if we hand u power then we jst clear u d way to divide nigeria.
It is in compitency and lack of agenda for jonathan that lead his administration to failure not boko haram,this evil sect are only in the north not the entire country,if there is no development in the north as a result of bokoharam let it be in other part where there is no boko.we no they are evils but we should not use that and sit on nation’s 4 trilion with out doing nothing and be shouting bokohara bokoharam, after all bokos did not say they should not enploy or impliment minimum wage or removal of oil subsidy that led to the rising of everything that we are witnessing today or incriment in phcn(nepa)bil or the vanishing of our foreign reserve or lack of declearing his asset.if u are follwing histotry u would have being thanking our former leaders who move our nation from 7 to36 including yr own state that qualify u as a nigerian instead of thanking them u open that yr dirty mouth using boknharam matter to insult them u are not greatful even to the one u call yr god u are too sentiment and that yr sentimentality wil finish u if u do not reverse.
Now you people are talking.I hate to be join the Band Wagon wen it move to direction.We all know Dr Ezeife wen he was the Governor of Anambra State.He ruling then was worst ever even to a point where he came from he people Igboukwu gave made him to a Nigbt Guide becouse he didnt build anything in his home Town Igboukwu & now here he is deceiving who cares to be deceived.He still dreamed of one Nigeria & want Igbos to keep being Marginalised,well he is joking beouse as far as average Igbo Man is concern there is no Nigeria after GEJ.Nigeria will go extint 2015 or before.As for Governor Theodore Orji,the Governor of Abia & how he sack his fellow Igbo Brothers from other State who works as a Civil Servant in his State Posterity will never forgive him & let him know that his name is already in the Igbo Black Note.If other Easthern Governor were as Wicked & Devilish like him i wonder wat would have been the Faith of all the Abians who are working in other Four Easthern State including that of their Daughters that being Married their.That stupid Governor Theodore Orji should have followed the footsteps of his predecessor called Orji Uzor Kalu who was the ex Governor before him & the owner of this Educative Newspaper Son that speaks for the Igbos.God bless Igbos,God bless Biafra
Now you people are talking.I hate to be join the Band Wagon wen it move to direction.We all know Dr Ezeife wen he was the Governor of Anambra State.He ruling then was worst ever even to a point where he came from he people Igboukwu gave made him to a Nigbt Guide becouse he didnt build anything in his home Town Igboukwu & now here he is deceiving who cares to be deceived.He still dreamed of one Nigeria & want Igbos to keep being Marginalised,well he is joking beouse as far as average Igbo Man is concern there is no Nigeria after GEJ.Nigeria will go extint 2015 or before.As for Governor Theodore Orji,the Governor of Abia & how he sack his fellow Igbo Brothers from other State who works as a Civil Servant in his State Posterity will never forgive him & let him know that his name is already in the Igbo Black Note.If other Easthern Governor were as Wicked & Devilish like him i wonder wat would have been the Faith of all the Abians who are working in other Four Easthern State including that of their Daughters that being Married their.That stupid Governor Theodore Orji should have followed the footsteps of his predecessor called Orji Uzor Kalu who was the ex Governor before him & the owner of this Educative Newspaper called Sun that speaks for the Igbos.God bless Igbos,God bless Biafra
Pls, pls, pls, brodas wait a munite. D chief has evry right 2 air is opinion as a citizen but like always say piples opinions are based on dia extensive knowledge of a particular subject. Wat d chief dont kno is dat d litle boyz n girlz ar now grown, d pase of enlightement or awareness has greatly widened unlike d ”aboki’ stupid, ignoble nd out of date born 2 rule mentality. Yes, unity in d face of senseles murder born out of unholy religious extremism wil b probagated by those not directly afected. If one or perhaps 2 of ezeife’s luvly sons was slaugtered, burnt turned into suya in d north, his own story wud hav changed. Nigeria’s resolution, revolution or disolution is now or neva, afterall, amagamation was a foreigner’s revolve.
I greet Dr Ezeife for his very erudite assessment of the elite class of northern 9ja leadership aspiration and ability. To take the empirical arguement further i shall challenge any northern to give reasons why they are qualified to present a president for this country going by the very poor performance of their leaders in governance from 1960 till date. This is the truth that is never told. Ask who is/are responsible for the backwardness of the 9ja north today. Why must people of that extraction want to rule others better than themselves moreso when their leaders hv nothing to show for performance in development leadership competence. Let us ask the right questions and seek after equity; therein lies theprogress and prosperity of 9ja.
Nigeria is history, cos we are no longer our brothers keeper as before. Our corrupt leaders have already polluted our minds with hate in order to continue stealing the resources of the nation. But Allah has catch them as the result of insecurity. Now they don’t have anyplace to hide their loots, they only alternative they have is to bring this country back to statuo quo. Which is impossible with the current poverty that has instituted in every part of the nation due to high corruption. For that some of them are agitating for state police so as to enslave their masses to protect them from the evil they created. But the can run but they won’t hide. Nemesis has catch them, time shall tell. Therefore, Mr. President do your best cause you don’t have problem with the good citezen of Nigeria. Nigerians know their problems, we will continue to be law abiding as well pray for Allah to salvage our country, ameen.
dr.ezeife no doubt is one of igbo leaders i respect so much bt i am somehow disapointed at some of his comments in dis interview.how can he say nigeria is arranged to be one by god when his brothers n sisters are bein kild in the north? I totaly disagre with him on that.lets cal a sped a sped,nigeria is a contraption of the britain and is long over due for devition.incase he is among those our leaders who do not belif in biafra,he shld be ready for a suprise
well we all know you very well
The way we Nigerians apply the name of God is wrong because we are not sincere to ourselves, which makes our activities to be unpatriotic and self-deceit. Let us call a spade by it proper name. Neither the Presidency nor the stakeholders are transforming the Nation the way it supposed to be transformed. At this millipede pace, the Nation will remain under-developed for the next several years to come, and it may take us longer than the 51 years it took us to bring the country in its present sorry condition. There is no transformation without proper action – execution or implementation of projects. Nice presentations, seminars or conferences cannot be substituted for proper action. Action speaks louder than words. The President and the stakeholders should act fast, be sincere and more aggressive towards priority issues. The dilapidated infrastructures are still in their sorry condition. Endemic corruption is the order of the day, and the end is not in sight. According to Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, “Boko Haram has not let us observed the President’s true performance”. The question is: does Boko Haram stop the nation from developing the dilapidated infrastructures? For example, the renovation of Legos-Benin road, Legos-Ibadan road or any of the Federal Highways; the answer is clear “NO”. Boko Haram may be constituting nuisance and menace in the nation but that does not stop the nation from forging ahead with her economic development in a faster pace. Tension will exist in the political arena because that is the only source of income in the Nation, and this sounds too bad for a third world nation where nothing works. Since there is no rule of law and we are not honest to ourselves, the proposed Nation Conference may not bring progress and peace. The journey to Eldorado is far. THE TRUTH SHALL SET US FREE!!
Thank you,
Elder (Dr.) Chukwuma Nwaonicha.
Dr. Ezeife like anyone else has every right to express his opinion and those who have contrary views should do so without being abusive. He believes in Nigeria and has said so clearly, and those who do not believe in Nigeria has right to pull out qed.
My bro. Dr. Ezeife has right to his opinion. What I know for sure is that, the rejected stone will later become the pillar of a house. Igbos hold the economic power of Nigeria from Idimota to Alaba up to kano to Abuja down to Ekiti state. Let Igbos unite esbhew disunity among themselvesAA
my good brodas una don tokam finish…you can fool us sometimes but not all the time…that you fool our fathers and forefathers does not mean you will fool us…enough of this one NIGERIA”"”"”
@ Uche…there is space for everybody in Nigeria. One Nigeria is better that no Nigeria and trust me the south east wont be enough for all of us if there is no Nigeria…then people like u and me that are taking care of our families & businesses outside the south east will have to deal with that….be wise!
Dr Ezeife last comment during Boko haram on slaughter is deafening and belittling
the chief spoke like a diplomatic elder, show understanding and respect. I hope other sections of nigeria are seeing reason why they should support an extra state in the south east and ensure a serious minded man of igbo extraction emerges as nigeria’s next president
May God help nigeria ,ogogoro people stop abusing north and pray for jonathan so that he cam move this nation forward,northern nigeria have done a wonderful job for moving this nation from 7 to 36.
Mr moderator if u like do not post any opinion that comes from north and join yr ogogoro brothers that are insulting north , na yr wahala.
let us wait until 2015.
I respect Dr Ezeife so much. Despite his people called him out for night security patrol, soon as he’s through from government house Awka. But Dr, let me make it clear to you that nothing in this earth will make Nigeria stand as one if GEJ should hand over power to the north. GEJ can rule till 2019, I don’t care. But if he hands over to the north, Nigeria we know no peace again. You know how Ibos thing dey be. All this Boko Haram stuff na just mmachri. Niger Delta case go bi childs play, to compere to what Ibo youths can do. At least, we take the whole of Nigeria to war, and if they still want it, we give them more. Enough is enough.
@ Alex i understand how you feel but remember that a wise man control his temper just as there is power of life and death in the tongue. The ibo youths will not take anyone to war if we don’t produce the next president of Nigeria…but they will only be delaying the greatness of the Nigerian nation by deniying the Ibos what is rightly theirs! Let us be wise !!
Dr Ezeife has again shown that he is in touch with Nigerian politics. He is wise,informed and humble but not afraid to say the truth. The north has ruled Nigeria more that any other ethnic group in Nigeria but what do the have to show for it? Boko Haramites should ask their leaders what they have to show for being at the helm of affairs of the country longer than any other group.
Ezeife can sing praise song for JEG using BOKO Haram as an excouse,remember when the Northerners were in govt we have Niger Delta millitants kidnaping,rapping,blowing up oil pipe lines,Armed rubbers with head quarters in the Easthern and Southern part of nigeria before the Amnesty of late Yar adua.first boombing in Nigerian histry was on the first Octomber in FCT Abuja carried out by Niger Delta millitant whom JEG claimed to know those behind it even after the millitants claimed to be behind it yet Ezeife has forgotten so soon that he now believe Boko haram is a northerner and Nigerian problem.The Ibo’s voted JEG in retune for Ibo president come 2015 forgotten that in Nigera elections dont count,only the Cabals anoint their candidate and he or she goat or dog must win with or without elections. ie, 1999 a prisoner was anointed (OBJ) by a northern millitory ruler, 2007 a living dead man was anointed by the Cabals and 2011 a millitant was also anointed by the Cabals to protect their interest in the oil rich region and if Ezeife and the rest of nigerians think that Boko haram is not govt magic,like the case of Kogi state where PDP govt hire thuggs to kill and mame oppositions in Ebira land to stop them getten gorvernorship ticket, then shine your eyes wait untill 2015 we will all know if tribe or religion can stop the Cabals. What we have in nigeria is the govt of the Cabals by the Cabals and for the Cabals only and Ezeife you are one of them YES or NO.
My message to Sab Chuks UAE: Mr man, are u sure u are an Igbo man? I don’t think u re. Look at u talking about collaborating with the north (our arch enemy) against Jonathan in 2015. What makes think the north has our interest in the first place, power drunk north to give power in 2019. Why not tell them to wait for 2019. Was it not this same north that betrayed Dr Alex Ekwueme at Jos in 1998; swindling us in favour of Obasanjo. Please never u come on this forum again when u don’t have any things sensible to say. Why not ask yourself this question: why do north think Nigeria is their personal property? What make them think that they re the only people qualified to rule this nation? Have u forgotten their slogan: “never allow Igbos to rule again (NAIRA)”. What happened to you memory? In fact u re the greatest fool for imagining an alliance with the north against a any person from the eastern region.
Pls lets not hang our Elder Statesman yet.Look/read deep into his answers especially whne it come s to Unity of Nigeria u’ll realise that he answers such questn with certain conditn..He himself will be d first to heave a sign of relief d very day Igbo extricate herself frm d bloody nation called Nigeria.i tell as a true son of Igbo he doesnt believe 100% in d longivity or oneness of Nigeria.
Ezeife you spoke well be you forget one thing .I no you love NIgeria as a nation but tell your friends north to stop killing your brothers. we igbo like to be a nigeria but .how can we be a nigeria and be the one to sacrifice when blood is needed to please the gods ,when you hear an igbo man said we want BIAFRA he have seeing the tribalisim moving on in nigeria , we igbo love ojukwu because he speck our mind. So good luck if their is power in your hand to divide nigeria please do it . It will favor you and I .
Dr.Ezeife you spoke well and every thing said were the principles our fathers set up this country called Nigeria.But we have so many ignorant Igbo haters.Those who can’t see any thing bad for their atrocies against the Igbos. Let me start from the born again, Yakubu Gowan,[All saw what he said about Ojukwu ambitions towards the war] has he for once regrated killing and starving millions of Igbo children to their death?For him, he was right! Most recently, while Boko Harams were killing the Igbos in the North, Bola Tinubu went to North to strategised with Buhari on how to win 2015 elections and then, Boko Harams, themselves gave him a good receptions by Killing some more Igbos the next Sunday in his honour, while people believed he was still there.Yes! He road on motorcade with them as they cheer and waves him, everywhere he goes in North.Do you hear him saying any thing about Boko Harams Killing of Igbo people in the North? Chief Clark spoke against Boko Haram’s last time,which the Elderly Chief Clark,said that IBB and Buhari were not doing enough to addressed the issues concerning the Boko Harams,then after.Who came first to challenged Chief Clark? Arthur Nzeribe? Can you believed that? Go to most of the Churches in Lagos Nigeria their preaching are against President Jonathan and his Wife! These Pastors do not say any thing about THE BOKO HARAM killing Igbos my people in the North.As long as they do not kill tribes like Yorubas, is fine with my fellow Pastors in Nigeria. Thieves have taking over Nigeria and mostly Nigerian churches! The word of Christian God asked us to be praying for our leaders but theirs are different. I will want The Igbos to think of arming themselves first,before thinking of any thing else! We are part of this God’s world and we can not runaway for intemidations. Rather we will return to our own land and if any one comes there to attack us, then we will fight back,and remember, we have done so before, and this resulted for Nigeria donating Bakassi to Cameroon to defeat Biafrans and trouble they created then lives on still today! From Bishop Joseph Santus Obiagunwa Okpara N. [USA].
one day in this life…northern nigerians must look for entry visas before the enter eastern or southern part os this nation just bet it